Machine for making metal spokes



(No Model.) 5 Sheets -Sheet 1;

. W. G. ALLEN. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SPOKES.

N0. 605,050. .Patented-MayBI, 1898.

v (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

W. G. ALLEN. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SPOKES.

No. 005,050. 0 Patented May 31, 1898.

IDA/6x50? 7 qjm au 5 Sh0etsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. 0, ALLEN. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL SPOKES. No. 005,050.

' 'Patented May 31', 1898.

PRTIHHI IIII W |(-E 2--- I I in 0000.; 0 0000A 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

w. G'. ALLEN. MACHINE FORMAKING METAL SPOKES.

N0. 60- 5 ,0 50. Patented May 31 m WWW 5 Sheetsfsheet 5.

- (No Model.)

W. 0. ALLEN.

I .MAGHINE FOR MAKING METAL SPOKES.

Patented May 31, 1898.

UNITED STATES" PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM G. ALLEN, OF: HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR'M'AKI N G METAL SPOKES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,050, dated May 31,1898.

' Application filed May 9,1896. Serial No. 590,944. (No model.) 7' 7' Toall whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. ALLEN, of Hartford, Connecticut, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making MetalSpokes, which are fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of wire spokes such as used inwheels of bic and has particular reference to the heading and bending ofthe spoke.

Heretofore the heading and bending operations have usually beenperformed by two distinct machines; and the object of this invention isto accomplish these operations expeditiously in a single machine.

In the better class of bicycles the spokes are swaged for the greaterpart of their length, this step being performed before the heading andbending; but in cheaper grade machines the wire spokes are not swaged,but are of the same diameter throughout. By the machine hereinafterdescribed spokes of this character can be made directly from a coil ofwire, being straightened, cut to proper length, headed, and bent. Means,however, are also provided whereby swaged spokes can be fed. to themachine for heading and bending.

In the preferred form of machine in which the invention is carried outfeed mechanism is provided whereby the spokes are fed sidewise-that is,in a direction transverse to their length-through the machine. The feedis intermittent, carrying the spoke firstto the header or punch, bywhich the head is upset, and returning while this operation is beingperformed, then advancing again, carrying forward both spokes, the firsttoward the bending devices and the second toward the header. Bysuccessive steps the spokesare fed through and out of the machine. Inthe particular feed movement preferred the feedcylinders advance by alongitudinal movement and return by a gradual spiral or screw motion,the spoke remaining stationary during this return movement.

The invention embraces the particular form stationary during this returnmovement. In

other words, the return movement is given by a cam or equivalent devicehaving the same pitch as the spiral grooves. This mechanism renders itunnecessary to employ gripping devices of any sort for seizing,advancing, and releasing the spokes and permits of a number of spokesbeing in transit through the machine atthe-sam'e time withoutduplication of the feeding devices.

The invention embraces certain features of construction and combinationsand arrangements of parts, as hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of myinvention in a practical apparatus, said drawings forming part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through one of the feed-cylindersand its operating mechanism. Fig. 4: is an elevation, partly in section,of the heading mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through thegripping device for such mechanism, whereby the spoke is held during theformation of the head. Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figs. 4and 5 of the bending devices. Fig. 8 is a detail of the camsandoperating-lever for the bending device; and Figs. 9, 10, and 11 arerespectively a side elevation, plan view, and front elevation, ofmechanism for delivering blanks previously severed into lengths to thefeed-cylinders.

At one side of the machine is an uprigh frame 'or casting B, Fig. 2,formed with a deep horizontal slot or recess b, extending entirelyacross it, this recess being for the passage of the spoke, which is fedtransversely across the machine in a direction at right angles to thelength of the spoke. While passing through this recess the spoke comesfirst to the header and then to the bender.

The feed is effected by two sleeves or cylinders C C, mounted each on ashaft 0 and connected therewith by a spline c or similar connection topermit longitudinal mot-ion of the sleeve independently of its shaft.Shafts c are continuously rotated in the same direction from shaft 10through bevel-gears 11 12 and spur-gears 123 ll 15, the gear it being anintermediate or idler.

The cylinders have each a spiral groove 0 extending from end to endthereof, the grooves in the cylinders being in the same line, so that astraight wire or spoke 0;, Figs. 1 and 2, can be engaged by a groove ineach cylinder. The axes of the feed-cylinders are slightly inclined, sothat the spoke when resting in the grooves will be square with themachine.

The rotation of the cylinders has nothing to do with the feed of thespoke, which is effected intermittently by the longitudinal forwardmovement of the cylinders. This movement, as well as the returnmovement, is effected by a cam-groove c in the end of the cylinder, inwhich engages a roller 0 on a fixed support 0 When in the rotation ofthe eylinderthe abrupt incline c, Fig. 1, comes against the roller, thecylinder advances by a quick movement, the distance of the feed beingequal to the distance between the spirals of groove c The gradualincline of the cam thus causes the cylinder to return. The pitch of thispart of the cam is the same as that of the spiral groove, so that duringthe return movement the spoke remains in the position to which it hasbeen advanced, the thread simply unwinding itself, so to speak, underthe spoke.

Omitting for the present the description of the devices for placing theblanks in position on the feed-cylinders, the construction of whichdevices will depend on whether the blanks have been previously separatedor are formed in the machine itself from a continuous wire, I willproceed to describe the mechanism whereby the blanks are first headedand then bent to the required angle, it being assumed that each time thecylinders return a blank is laid in the first of the feed grooves orchannels and advanced step by step, as above explained, its forward endtraversing the slot Z) during such movement.

The heading meehanism,to which the blank is first presented, comprises,essentially, a gripping device for the end of the wire and asuitably-operated heading or upsetting die. The gripping devicecomprises a stationary jaw or block J, adjustable by means of a bolt (1and a movable jaw (Z carried by a slide d" and operated from a shaft 16by a toggle-joint (Z Jaws d and d come together in the line of slot Z).Shaft 16 is reciprocated from an eccentric 19 on shaft 17 through an arm20 and pitman 21. c is the heading or upsetting die carried by a plunger6, mounted in a suitable way on a plate E, secured to casting B andvertically adjustable thereon by means of bolt 6 to bring the die to theproper alinement. Plunger c has thereon a projection or lug (2 throughwhich passes a pin 6, to the ends of which connect springs c, operatingto retract the plunger after each stroke, such movement being limited bya stop-bolt In the rear end of the plunger is screwed a head c", whichmay be adjusted to vary the length of the stroke. This head receives theimpact of a hammer-f, which operates to drive the plunger, said hammerreceiving its motion from eccentric 18 on shaft 17. At the instant thefeed-cylinders present a blank between the jaws (l and d" the slide (Zis actuated to move jaw d, thereby tightly gripping and holding thewire-blank, which projects at its end slightly beyond the jaws. Theplunger 6' now makes its working strokes, and a head of proper shape isformed upon the blank, which is then released by the gripping-jaws andcarried forward by the next sliding movement of the feed-cylinders. Thebending mechanism, which the headed blank next oncounters, is mostclearly shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, and, like the heading mechanism, itincludes as an essential part a gripping device consisting of astationary jaw g and a movable jaw 9, meeting in the line of slot 1),the movable jaw being operated from shaft 16 in a manner similar to jaw(Z3 of the heading mechanism. Arranged adjacent to the jaw g is avertieally-operating slide 71., carrying at its lower end a die block71., which bears against the edge of jaw g. Jaw g is recessed at oneside, as at and die-block 71. recessed, as at h providing proper space,which the head of the blank or spoke occupies as the die-block descendsand imparts the proper bend to the spoke. Slide h is actuated by a leverits, having at its end a yoke h, embracing shaft 17, and carryingrollers h 7!, hearing against cams 22 and 23, respectively, on saidshaft. It will be understood that when the headed blank has beenadvanced to aposition between the jaws g g, the headed end projectingbeyond said jaws, the movable jaw is actuated to grip the spoke, and thedie It descends to bend the end, as clearly shown in Fig. 0. A reversemovement of the parts ensues, and the spoke is fed forward another stepby the longitudinal movement of the cylinders.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated mechanism for forming theblanks in the machine itself from a continuous wire 7 which passes intothe machine through a straightening device 1, between feed-pulleys 7c,and then through a bushing Z, where it is operated upon by a cutter mand severed into blanks .1; of suitable length, which are laid in thegrooves of cylinders C C. The feed-pulleys k are operated from the shaftof one of the cylinders 0 through bevel-gears 2t 25, shaft 26, gears 272S, and gears 2.) 30. Cutter m is operated by a cam-wheel 39 on shaft26.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 10, and 11,whieh show another form ofmechanism for deliverin g the spoke-blanks to the feed-cylinders, 'n, 'nare two vertical ways in which the ends of spoke-blanks severed to theproper length engage. In order to provide for spokes of differentlengths, plate 71, forming one of the ways, is adjustable by means ofset-screws n in slots n Projecting into the bottom of each way is avibratory supporting-slide 0, having a sharpened end 0 and operated by alug 0 on shaft 31, said shaft being oscillated by means of arm 32, link33, lever 34, and cam on shaft 10.

The devices above referred to being so disposed that the spokes restingone above another in the ways n n lie directly above the spiral groovesof cylinders O O the quick vibratory movements effected by cam 35 causepoints 0 of slides 0 (which are simultaneously operated) to drop theblanks oneby one onto the cylinders.

It will be understood that the several operations and movements of partsherein described are so timed and regulated as to take place in properorder, the whole machine working automatically.

Departures from the precise construction shown and described may be madewithin wide limits without departing from the principle of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for making wire spokes, the combination of devices forforming a head on one end of the spoke, devices for bending the headedend to form a shoulder, and feed mechanism for feeding the blanks tosaid devices in succession, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for making wire spokes, the combination of devices forforming a head on one end of the spoke, devices for bending the headedend to form a shoulder, and feed mechanism for feeding the blanks tosaid devices in succession, the action of the heading devices andbending devices taking place simultaneously upon different blanks,substantially as described.

3. The combination of the heading devices, the bending devices, feedmechanism for presenting the blanks successively to the heading devicesand bending devices, and automatically-operated gripping devices forholding the blanks during the heading and bending operations, and forreleasing the same upon the completion thereof, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with heading and bending devices arranged to actsuccessively upon each spoke, and simultaneously upon different spokes,of means for feeding the blanks to said devices in a directiontransverse to the length of the blanks, by an intermittent movement,substantially as described.

5. The combination with heading and bending devices arranged to actsuccessively upon the spoke-blanks, of rotary feed-cylinders havingspiral grooves thereon in which the blanks are laid, means for movingthe cylinders forward longitudinally, whereby the spoke-blanks areadvanced by an intermittent movement, and means for gradually returningthe cylinders by a movement commen-- surate with the pitch of saidspiral grooves, substantially as described.

6; The combination with devices for acting successively upon awire-blank, of feeding mechanism for the blanks comprising horizontalrollers movable lengthwise of their supporting-shafts and having spiralperipheral grooves, means for rotating said rollers, and means forimparting to them an intermittent forward motion andforreturning them ata speed corresponding with the pitch of the spiral grooves,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM G. ALLEN. Witnesses:

G. J. 'CAPEWELL, HARRY R. BOARDMAN.

